Less than 24 hours after winning the Euro 2025 final against world champions Spain in a dramatic penalty shootout, the Lionesses of England made a heroes’ welcome back on Monday.
As Sarina Wiegman’s team successfully defend the European women’s crown they won at Wembley in 2022, Chloe Kelly scored the decisive spot kick in Basel, Switzerland.
As they waited outside Southend airport, which is located about 40 miles (64 kilometers) east of London, cheered as many of the supporters donned England kits and waved their flags.
The team shared a photo of the trophy with the England flag on its side and the word “Home” written in red on its side in a post on X.
After landing, two fire engines gave the aircraft a water salute. The first off came from captain Leah Williamson and manager Wiegman, with the captain’s proud trophy holder.
Poppy and Daisy Macdonald, 11, who were requesting a photo with Alessia Russo, were among the waiting supporters.
We are extremely proud. They’ve won it twice in a row, and they’ve put in a lot of effort, Poppy said. They have suffered a lot of setbacks and injuries, but they have performed really well. ”
The Lionesses were then whisked straight to Keir Starmer’s working place, 10 Downing Street, which was decorated with England flags.
What a team, yay. What a game . What drama . You made the nation proud by digging in where it was most important. In a message to the Lionesses on X, Starmer wrote, “Historic makers,”
While Starmer was in Scotland meeting US President Donald Trump, the team received the hosts Angela Rayner, Deputy Prime Minister, and Stephanie Peacock, both of whom are sports ministers.
The players were praised by Rayner as a shining example of female football’s talent and enthusiasm.
Tuesday will see an open-top bus parade that will culminate in a celebration in front of Buckingham Palace.
The victory in Switzerland was sweet retaliation for Wiegman’s reigning champions, who had to endure bitter defeat from the same foes in the World Cup final two years prior.
Late drama
A remarkable tournament full of late drama for England was capped by a victory in Switzerland on Sunday.
Before settling comfortably over the Netherlands and Wales in the group stage, Wiegman’s team were slow to come out of the blocks after losing their opening game to France.
With a last-gasp extra-time victory over Italy, they rallied from 2-0 down to defeat Sweden in the quarter-finals before winning on penalties to advance to the final on Sunday.
At the conclusion of extra-time, the defending champions were level at 1-1 after Mariona Caldentey’s opener, but Russo’s team was once more in the lead after the hosts once more lost to Spain on Sunday.
Kelly, who also scored the winner against Germany in the 2022 final, opened the scoring with two penalty saves from the misses of the match, Hannah Hampton, the player of the match, and Salma Paralluelo.
Less than five minutes of lead was held by the Lionesses throughout the entire Euros knockout stage.
Wiegman remarked, “This is the most chaotic and ridiculous tournament we have played.”
The players claim that we can win any way, but that we never, ever give up. ”
After leading the Netherlands to victory in 2017, the Dutch coach, who has now won three European Championship titles in a row, expressed hope that England’s victory will inspire international women’s football.
She said, “My experience with this tournament was that the intensity of the games went up in incredible numbers.” That is what we have observed, she said.
It is evident in both the data and the games, “we’ve seen it.” I believe this tournament broke every previous record, which is fantastic, and I hope that it will help improve women’s tennis everywhere. ”
